Shape Up In The Sun

Conor Mc Hale

 With Ireland’s reputation for having four seasons in one day, it’s a little impossible to predict which season we will have in the up-and-coming coming days, but if the good weather returns and delivers the summer we’ve been hoping for, it would provide us with a great opportunity to get outside in the fresh air …and why not get fit at the same time?

Working out in gyms and attending fitness classes are all well and good, but training outdoors can be a great way to spice up your exercise routine. The fresh air and sunshine also boosts your mood and will leave you feeling alive, revitalised and refreshed. Win-win!

If you’re like me, and the idea of simply lying out in the sun, doing nothing, isn’t too appealing, it’s a good idea to prepare in advance and have some activities in mind before the sun shines.

Jogging on the beach

Let’s start with an obvious one. Jogging on the beach. It’s simple, easy and best of all, free! Jogging on sand also places less stress on the joints than running on the road would, and it also reduces the risk of injury.It requires no real equipment, other than a good pair of runners. (Choose a comfortable pair that provides good ankle support)

Cycling

If you have access to a bike, then cycling is great exercise for the lower body, heart and lungs. By choosing different terrains you can vary the intensity of your cycling session. If you’re looking for a lighter session you could choose a relatively flat, smooth route. Mountain biking, on the other hand, would involve going up and down hills and possibly rough terrain and this would be more intense.

Cycling adds great variety to your work outs and helps keep things fresh and keep you motivated and ensures your enjoyment in the sun remains.

Everybody loves Surfing…

Surfing and windsurfing may not be the most universally accessible activities but they are still great exercise for the lower body. Maintaining the positions needed for both these activities, requires a certain amount of lower body strength, as well as balance.

The fact that it’s on water, adds a fun element to it, as well as being a refreshing option should you find yourself getting too hot!

Swimming

Swimming is also great exercise and works your entire body. And, if it’s a particularly warm day, the water will help keep your body cool. Swimming is also very gentle on the joints, as the buoyancy of the water supports your body weight.

Remember though, that if you are swimming outside, it’s important to use common sense and be safe.

Walking

Finally, it may be simple but, walking. Walking offers cardiovascular exercise that is gentle on the joints and is an ideal way to start an exercise program if you are especially out of shape or coming back from an injury.

Like jogging, it’s free, you only need a comfortable pair of shoes with good ankle support to participate and it’s very hard to do it wrong!

Whatever activity you choose to do this summer…

Remember to drink plenty of water before, during and after the activity. It’s always important to keep well hydrated, but especially on warm days when your body will sweat more, as it has to work harder to stay cool in the heat.

So, there you have it! Just a few suggestions on outdoor activities that will provide you with a great work out and gives you the excuse you need to get out and enjoy whatever sunshine we get in the coming weeks.